33. Grady
GRADY
I couldn’t sleep.
How the hell was I supposed to?
It wasn’t that my hammock was uncomfortable. It wasn’t that I was too cold or that mosquitoes were attacking me.
I was prepared, so none of that shit happened. And any other night, I probably would have slept like a log.
But I couldn’t switch my mind off.
All I could think about was the fact that Blake was in that tent mere feet away from me.
All I could remember was exactly what went down in that tent.
I relived every second of it, over and over.
Then my mind would travel to the rest of the day, and she consumed me as I pictured her jumping off those rocks, then splashing in the water.
I heard her laughter and watched her excited face when she pointed out that squirrel or made us stop walking so she could hear the woodpecker in the distance .
Damn, she took over every corner of my brain. I’d gazed up through the trees, glimpsing the twinkling stars and willing myself to go to sleep.
I think I managed a couple hours just before dawn, but I woke up groggy, the sound of rustling brush alerting me to the fact that Blake was up and relieving herself behind a tree nearby.
Waiting until I knew she was decent, I got myself up and did the same, trekking a good minute or so away so she didn’t have to hear me pee.
By the time I got back, she was up and dressed, stuffing the sleeping bag into the pouch and obviously getting ready to move on. I’d shared the itinerary with her, and she was clearly set on sticking to that plan.
Good.
Walking is just what we both need.
While she repacked, I got the packs down from their perch and unearthed the overnight oats, sprinkling a few raisins on the top plus a drizzle of honey.
I always keep those mini ones you get in hotels, and my dad and Emma collect them for me too.
Licking the last of the honey out of the plastic wrapper, I stow my trash in the side pouch of my bag before holding out a plastic bowl and spoon to Blake.
“Here you go.” I clear the morning croak out of my throat and smile at her. “Breakfast of champions.”
She gives the food a dubious frown, stirring in the fruit and honey before giving it a tentative taste.
“Hm. Not bad,” she murmurs, scooping in a bigger mouthful.
“Slow-release carbs. They’ll keep us going, especially since the first part of today’s trail has an incline. ”
She looks over her shoulder at the direction I’m pointing, then turns to face the water. “We can’t just stay here?”
“Well, we can.” I nod, disappointed. “I mean, I planned a loop for us to take over the five days, but if you want, we can just do some day hikes here and back again.”
I won’t get to show you some of my favorite spots, but maybe that’s a good thing. It’s not like you’re my girlfriend and I’m trying to share a massive part of my life with you.
I remind myself, yet again, that I’m doing this for her. So if she wants to set up camp here, then?—
“No, it’s okay. You’re right. Sticking to the loop will be fun. I don’t want to mess up your planning.”
“I can be flexible.” I watch her carefully, making sure she’s not just saying this to appease me. But her blue gaze brushes over mine and she gives me an honest-looking smile.
“I’m gonna miss this beautiful spot, but I’m also excited about seeing what else you wanna show me.”
“There’s plenty more beauty to come,” I promise her.
Her smile grows, and I take a mental snapshot before dipping my chin and begging my libido to calm the fuck down.
The sound of her erotic moans dance in my brain, her undulating ass as she rose and sank on my cock yesterday. Fuck, that was hot.
My dick twitches just thinking about it, and I shovel down the last of my oats, willing my brain to behave its damn self.
“Let’s get packed up and go,” I end up snapping as I rise from my spot and stalk around the fire .
I made sure it was fully out last night and didn’t bother reviving it this morning.
Yes, it’s cold, but we’re gonna be moving soon, and that will get our blood flowing.
This spot is kind of sheltered, the sun hidden behind a bank of trees.
But as soon as we reach the top of the ridge, we’ll be hiking under clear blue skies and heating up fast.
Without a word, I take our bowls to the lake and clean them off.
Blake follows me, her delicious scent pure torture.
Clenching my jaw, I keep fighting my battle and hand her the dishes for drying.
She does it, and then I’m teaching her how to pack away the tent, talking her through it while I roll up my hammock.
I have to help her with the final folding, but as usual, she’s picked things up faster than I thought she would.
Her instincts are spot-on, and I love that about her.
You love a lot about her.
Don’t remind me!
“You good?” I adjust the belt around my waist and check that hers is sitting right before daring a look at her face.
She nods, her expression closed. Blank.
It makes my insides jittery, and I’m really missing the playful, mischievous girl that lurks beneath the surface, waiting to bounce out and surprise me without warning.
“Okay, well, uh…” I point at the trail ahead and start walking.
The silence is fucking killing me. I can’t go the whole day like this. Despite my grumpy demeanor, I force myself to talk, to ask, to peel back the layers keeping her trapped in this “I have to be perfect” world .
She reluctantly tells me a few stories from her childhood, then starts to relax and open up, filling our morning hike with tales about Wily and her growing up together, the pranks they’d pull on their cousins, the dares they’d give each other to do.
She fractured her arm when she tried to learn skateboarding, then got told off by her parents for being so reckless.
“My talents lie in the classroom, apparently,” she muttered before continuing on about all the clubs and student councils she’s been a part of.
Geez, she was pretty damn busy in high school. It still surprises me that she didn’t lose her head then. But under the watchful gaze of her parents, she probably didn’t even think to get a little crazy.
“Every Friday night was football, of course.” I can practically hear her eye roll and spin to catch the tail end of it.
“You don’t like football?”
“Of course I like it.” She flicks her hands up. “I’m a Wilson, so I have to be obsessed with it. Didn’t you know?”
I snicker and shake my head. “I’m pretty sure your dad has never missed one Cougars game.”
“I assure you, he hasn’t. There was one time Mom had to get her appendix out—emergency surgery—and Dad watched the game on his phone. Honestly, he’s a lost cause.”
“I take it you’re thoroughly over the sport.”
“I was never really into it, to be honest. If I’m gonna spend a few hours watching something, I want it to be a movie or…” She stretches her arm wide, indicating the vista on our right.
We reached the top of the ridge about an hour ago and have been hiking west. The trail’s pretty flat and easy. It’s a nice reprieve after that climb we puffed our way through. Blake kept on telling stories, though, stopping for breaks and sips of water before forcing her body to keep going.
She’ll be aching tonight, but I know she can handle it. She’s not some delicate petal.
I pause to study her smile, stoked by how much she’s loving this view. She really appreciates it, and that means so much to me. I don’t even understand why. I guess it’s just nice to be with someone who totally gets it.
My insides simmer and squirm, so I look away from her, drinking in the stunning vista. “My dad loves this spot.”
Blake turns to watch me, her nose wrinkling as she shades her eyes from the sun. “You and your dad seem close.”
“Yep.” I nod. “We’re real tight.”
“What about your mom?”
I pause, trying to figure out what I’m supposed to say. I end up expelling a sigh, and she nods.
“So it’s like that.” She saunters toward me, her hiking boots clomping along the dirt. “Come on, then. Spill the tea, baby.”
With a soft snicker, I’m about to shake my head, but she gives me this arched-brow look that says it all: I just spent the last two hours spilling my family history. It’s your turn, buddy.
And so I do .
I tell her about Dad’s indiscretion and Mom’s hardline over the whole thing.
I tell her about the rift between my brother and the relationship I’m trying to maintain with my half-brothers.
I tell her about Dad’s girlfriend and how much I like her.
“But you only put up with your stepdad?”
I shrug. “I don’t have that much to do with him. He focuses mainly on his kids, leaves Mom to focus on hers.”
“Blended families always sound so tricky.”
“Yeah, they are,” I mumble, trying to come up with happier topics. This is such a downer. It’s darkening my mood again, and just as we’re walking out of the sunlight and back into the forest.
Perfect timing, right?
Opening up to her is making me feel too vulnerable.
We’re getting too deep, too personal. Her insightful comments are wearing away at my resolve like sandpaper.
It’s thinning my protective exterior, making her more than just a sexy hiking buddy.
I mean, of course she’s more than that, but do I honestly want to become good friends with this girl? Do I want to confide in her?
Hell no! That’ll only make this a thousand times harder!
Gritting my teeth, I pick up my pace, desperate to create a little more distance. Slamming my feet down with purpose, I glance over my shoulder to check she’s still following me and completely miss the broken tree branch that’s poking out onto the trail.
“Ah! Fuck!” I can’t help shouting, agitation firing through me at the hot pain lancing my forearm.
“Are you okay?” Blake starts running; I can hear her crashing down the trail .
Quickly moving, I push the branch out of her way so she doesn’t get jabbed, too, before slapping my hand over the wound.
“What happened?” Her skin is pale, her eyes large with worry.
“Branch just got me,” I grit out. “No big deal.”
“Well, let me look.” She reaches for my wrist, holding it steady and trying to move my other hand.
“It’s fine. I can deal with it.”
“At least let me help.” She unbuckles her pack, dropping it at her feet and rummaging around for the first-aid kit. I gave it to her after our you can’t carry all the weight argument.
Pulling it free, she rips it open and starts plucking through it, clearly having no idea what she’s doing.
“Give it to me,” I growl, yanking the small red bag out of her hands.
“You don’t have to be a dick about it,” she grumbles. “Just tell me what you need, and I’ll pass it to you.”
“I’ve got it.” I crouch down, placing the bag on the ground and picking out the things I need.
“Can I hold that for you?” She steps close, her thigh brushing my shoulder as she leans down to steady my arm.
Shit, she smells so good.
This is dangerous.
She’s too close. Her leg is pressing against my arm. I can’t concentrate when she’s this near.
Fuck. I’m losing my mind around this woman!
What is happening to me?
“I’m good, Blake. Just give me some space. ”
“But it looks sore.” She hisses, studying the ragged wound.
It’s really not that bad, just a surface scratch, but I still need to sterilize it and maybe just wrap it until we get to our campsite.
“Here. Let me.” Taking the alcohol wipe off me, she rips open the packet and starts wiping down my wound.
It burns and stings, and now her hair is tickling my face as she leans over me.
All I want to do is fist those luscious curls and swivel her to face me. I want to press my mouth against hers, drinking her in, kissing her until we both can’t breathe.
“I got it!” I snap, my tortured brain instantly regretting my harsh tone.
Blake steps back, frowning down at me. “I’m trying to help.”
“Yeah, well you’re not!”
Why am I still yelling at her? This isn’t her fault.
Letting out a short huff, I’m about to apologize when she growls, bunching her fists and snarling at me. “Fine! You grumpy asshole! Look after your own fucking injury, then!”
Snatching her pack, she wrestles it back onto her shoulders, making a right mess of the straps and ties.
With short screeches and snappy grunts, she soon has it hitched onto her back, her face red from exertion and her eyes bright with two words: Shut up!
I don’t say a fucking thing.
She stomps away from me in all her fuming glory, and I race to get myself patched up. I forgo the bandage and slap a few haphazard Band-Aids over the wound so I don’t smear blood everywhere. Shoving everything into the first-aid kit, I chase after her when she gets out of sight.
Shit! Doing the right thing by my teammate is fucking hard.
I don’t want to betray him, but I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.